Progesterone Level

Provided By Oasis Advanced Wellness

During the 10 to 15 years before menopause, many women regularly have cycles where they make enough estrogen to create menstruation, but the progesterone level may remain very low. This sets the stage for estrogen dominance. By using natural progesterone during these months, symptoms of PMS can be helped.

We also know that PMS can occur despite normal progesterone levels when stress is present. Stress overtaxes the adrenals and increases cortisol production. Cortisol blocks (or competes for) progesterone receptors. Additional progesterone is required in this case to overcome this blockade, and additional stress management is important, such as proper nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle. Similar scenarios apply to men as well.

If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause, be aware that when doctors do lab tests for hormone levels, they typically find that women are low on estrogen. However, the hormones are even lower in progesterone levels, which many doctors do not even test for. Raising just the progesterone levels will usually balance out the estrogen levels naturally in the body.

Many women now taking estrogen, or estrogen combined with progestins, are able to discontinue their HRT. It is possible, that if there is adequate natural progesterone levels, the body can produce estrogens. If you are taking HRT and begin applying progesterone cream but do not lower your estrogen dosage, you may experience symptoms of estrogen-dominance cited above. Take a hormone test (saliva test) to see if your hormones are out of balance (this can be done in the privacy of your own home). With your doctor's instructions, lower your estrogen dose. If he or she doesn't agree with this reduction, get another opinion. Replace your HRT with natural progesterone and after awhile you will be able to discontinue your HRT.